Global Wellness Rituals to Try This Year

Morocco

Hammam, or traditional Moroccan bath houses, aren’t for the shy, as they are typically experienced in the nude and separated by gender. These public baths are places to socialize, relax and get squeaky clean – you’ll be rigorously scrubbed and exfoliated down to a new layer of skin with black soap and a hand mitt.

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Peru

Ancient Amazonian tribes used this psychedelic brew made from tea leaves for spiritual and religious purposes. Now, however, it has become popular worldwide as an alternative healing treatment to   reach an altered state of consciousness and to heal past traumas, depression, cancer and more. During a retreat, a shaman prepares the drink and guides the participant through the ceremony, which can result in the body purging in all forms, which is believed to be part of the cleansing process.

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Japan

Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing is the Japanese practice of immersing oneself in nature through the five senses as a form of preventative medicine and therapy. In fact, trees give off organic compounds that support cancer-fighting cells by boosting the immune system. A simple stroll in the woods also lowers blood pressure and accelerates recovery from surgery or illness.

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United States

While floating in a pitch-black soundproof pod filled with salt water might seem terrifying, this is one of the hottest wellness trends in the U.S. Devotees say the lack of stimuli creates a deep state of mental and physical relaxation that lasts long after emerging from the tank.

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India

Traditional yoga poses involving headstands or backbends might be intimidating to some, but Laughter Yoga is something everyone can do. In Mumbai in 1995, Dr. Madan Kataria created this hilarious meditative practice that involves cracking up for no reason in order to lower levels of stress hormones. Now it’s contagious, and Laughter Yoga clubs can be found all over the world.

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Tibet

For centuries, Buddhist monks have used “singing bowls” for meditation and healing purposes. The vibrations created by these bowls are believed to balance, heal and restore out-of-harmony parts of the mind and body by reducing stress, focusing the mind and even relieving pain.

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Finland

Finland ranks as the happiest country in the world for the second year in a row by the United Nations. Could one of their secrets to being so content lie in their national pastime of sweating out the blues in a sauna? Or maybe it is the adrenaline rush of ice swimming, another popular activity Finns do for a jolt of joy on a cold winter’s day.

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Russia

Volunteering to be whacked with a bunch of oak leaves might not sound relaxing, but it’s a traditional type of massage in Russian banyas, or bath houses. The beating of water-dipped branches takes place in a sauna, and it is believed to boost circulation and prevent premature skin aging.

take on self-care – sposoby na dbanie o siebie / pielęgnację

soundproof pod – dźwiękoszczelna kapsuła

get squeaky clean – stać się czystym jak łza

rigorously scrubbed and exfoliated – tutaj: dokładnie oczyszczona i złuszczona skóra

hand mitt – tutaj: rękawica Kessa

psychedelic brew – halucynogenny wywar

reach an altered state of consciousness – osiągnąć odmienny stan świadomości

cleansing process – proces oczyszczenia

immerse oneself in nature  – zatopić się w naturze

give off organic compounds – wydzielać związki organiczne

boost the immune system – wzmacniać układ odpornościowy

headstand – stanie na głowie

backbend – mostek (figura gimnastyczna)

intimidating – onieśmielający, przerażający

crack up – wybuchnąć śmiechem

contagious – zaraźliwy

sweat out the blues  – wypocić wszystkie smutki

whack with sth – uderzać czymś

Read the text and answer the following questions:

Which treatment…

1. … involves subjecting yourself to moderate physical pain?

2. … may be viewed as a form of nature therapy and combines a range of outdoor exercises?

3. … is recommended for people who don’t mind nudity?

4. … involves prolonged voluntary laughter?

5. … is a kind of sound therapy associated with Buddhist meditation?

6. … may seem scary at first but will put you in a state of deep relaxation?

1. Who discovered the Bath hot springs and when?

2. What disease did the Prince suffer from?

3. What cured him of the disease?

4. Which spring is the largest and most significant?

5. What is the temperature of the hot springs in Bath?

6. Apart from the springs, what else can you enjoy in the Bath?

Describe the issue presented in the article. Use the expressions listed below. They will help you give structure to the text analysis.

key words:

wellness rituals and trends

physical and mental well-being

collocations with positive meaning:

mental and physical relaxation

healing treatment

hilarious meditative practice

preventative medicine

collocations with negative meaning:

past traumas

premature skin aging

intimidating poses

blood pressure

action verb phrases:

do something for a jolt of joy

boost circulation

lower levels of stress hormones

relieve pain

accelerate recovery from illness

Record your text analysis on a voice recorder or practice delivering your presentation in a group setting.

Examples:

Since the beginning of time, people…

Every country has its own…

In Finland, for instance, it involves…

Translate the sentences below using the suggested word or phrase. (see Key)

(mental) Jaki jest sekret dobrego samopoczucia fizycznego i psychicznego?

(beginning … searched) Od zarania dziejów ludzie szukali odpowiedzi.

(take on) Każdy kraj ma swoje własne tradycje i sposoby na dbanie o siebie.

(involves … dips) W Finlandii obejmuje to sauny parowe oraz kąpiele w lodowatej wodzie.

(believed) W Tybecie uważa się, że wibracje dźwiękowe leczą i harmonizują ciało.

(try … new) W tym nowym roku wypróbuj nieznane rytuały odnowy biologicznej z całego świata.

You can use your translations in your presentation of the topic (in Task 6).

Continue the translation using the suggested word or phrase. Remember: It’s not about translating these sentences perfectly – there are a number of possible ways to translate each sentence. This task aims to teach you TO THINK IN ENGLISH. By working on your translation of a sentence, you can change it to get closer to the sense of the original (see Key).

Hammam lub tradycyjne marokańskie łaźnie nie są dla nieśmiałych, ponieważ they are typically experienced nago i separated według płci.

Te publiczne łaźnie są miejscami spotkań towarzyskich, relaksu i get squeaky clean.

Volunteering to be whacked with wiązką liści dębu może nie wydawać się relaksujące, ale jest to tradycyjny rodzaj masażu w Russian banyas lub łaźniach.

The beating of water-dipped branches odbywa się w saunie i uważa się, że poprawia krążenie i zapobiega przedwczesnemu starzeniu się skóry.

Tradycyjne pozycje jogi obejmujące stanie na głowie lub mostki mogą być intimidating dla niektórych, but Laughter Yoga jest czymś, co każdy może zrobić.

You can use your translations in your presentation of the topic (in Task 6).

Now it’s time to put forward your views on the issues. Record your speech on a voice recorder or practice presenting your opinion in a group setting. Consider the issues raised in the text from these viewpoints:

Personal: Mental and physical relaxation

Most of us love to…

Since the beginning of time, people…

Cultural: Wellness rituals

Every country has its own traditions…

For example, in Finland…

Medical: Physical and mental well-being

Not only do wellness treatments make us feel…

They also can heal…

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